SNAPNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94The latest podcasts and commentary from KMUW - Wichita 89.1 FM.NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94SNAPFri, 15 Dec 2017 10:26:54 +0000SNAPhttp://kmuw.org
Grant GerlockThe delivery of federal food benefits for millions of low-income people is likely to change after the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced last week it will allow states more flexibility in how they dole out the money.USDA Eyeing Changes To Federal Food Benefit Program That Would Give States More Controlhttp://kmuw.org/post/usda-eyeing-changes-federal-food-benefit-program-would-give-states-more-control
92524 as http://kmuw.orgWed, 13 Dec 2017 21:49:40 +0000USDA Eyeing Changes To Federal Food Benefit Program That Would Give States More ControlPresident Trump's proposed 2018 budget was released on Tuesday. It includes cuts to benefit programs including Medicaid, farm subsidies and welfare benefits.Benefit Cuts In Trump Budget Could Impact Wichita's Safety Net Programshttp://kmuw.org/post/benefit-cuts-trump-budget-could-impact-wichitas-safety-net-programs
83709 as http://kmuw.orgTue, 23 May 2017 22:38:31 +0000Benefit Cuts In Trump Budget Could Impact Wichita's Safety Net ProgramsJason ParrottThe food stamps program, officially called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), helps about 43 million people buy food. But the administrator currently in charge of SNAP is worried that assistance could soon be cut. Kevin Concannon is the USDA’s Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services. He says a majority of the SNAP recipients hold jobs, but they don’t make much money. Concannon says people outside of the program don’t always believe that – instead insisting SNAP is fraught with fraud and misuse. And he says it’s that message that is growing in Washington D.C. “I’m frankly more worried about voices in Congress who would like to block grant the program because I see that as just a way to weaken it, to make it less accessible to poor people across the country,” Concannon says. He says simply providing grants to states or local governments does not guarantee the people most in need will get enough assistance.SNAP Official Worries About Food Stamp Cutshttp://kmuw.org/post/snap-official-worries-about-food-stamp-cuts
78287 as http://kmuw.orgMon, 23 Jan 2017 11:00:00 +0000SNAP Official Worries About Food Stamp CutsJim McLeanGovernor Sam Brownback and a federal official disagreed publicly on Monday about how food stamp funds ought to be distributed to states. Their disagreement took place at a Topeka news conference to announce a federal grant. Heartland Health Monitor's Jim McLean reports...USDA Official Disagrees With Brownback On Food-Stamp Fundinghttp://kmuw.org/post/usda-official-disagrees-brownback-food-stamp-funding
48700 as http://kmuw.orgTue, 24 Mar 2015 19:08:54 +0000USDA Official Disagrees With Brownback On Food-Stamp FundingBryan ThompsonThe end of October brings an end to a boost in the amount of federal food assistance that's been helping to feed 316,000 Kansans for the past four years. The extra benefits were part of the stimulus bill Congress passed in 2009 to help people recover from the recession. Barb LaClair, who studies hunger issues at the non-profit Kansas Health Institute, says caseloads suggest low-income Kansans still aren’t seeing a recovery. She says they’re going to have no choice but to rely even more on food banks and food pantries, which are already overextended. “We know that the number of households in Kansas that are receiving food assistance benefits is at an all-time high," she says. "And we have not seen that level of need recede at all.” LaClair says the average SNAP, or food stamp, benefit in Kansas is around $260 a month. Families at that level will generally have their benefits reduced by less than $20 a month. That may not sound like much, but LaClair says it can mean several meals for aFood Assistance Reduced For 316,000 Kansanshttp://kmuw.org/post/food-assistance-reduced-316000-kansans
25678 as http://kmuw.orgFri, 01 Nov 2013 12:05:50 +0000Food Assistance Reduced For 316,000 KansansAssociated PressThe Kansas Department for Children and Families will stop using federal grants to help low-income residents sign up for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. We simply do not believe taxpayer dollars should be used to recruit people to be on welfare, said DCF spokeswoman Theresa Freed. The federal program had awarded grants to five groups across Kansas, to help low-income residents apply for SNAP funds. The state notified the groups of the change on September 30 , one day before the grants were to be renewed. Catholic Social Services in Dodge City was to receive about $14,500 in grant funds. CSS Director Debbie Snapp said most people who receive food assistance in southwest Kansas are employed at low-wage jobs and use the assistance temporarily. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food bank in Wichita is losing about $13,800 in funds. The majority of people are working, or they are single moms with small children, said Snapp. In recent years, weve seen a lot moreKansas Will Stop Using Federal Grants To Sign People Up For Food Stampshttp://kmuw.org/post/kansas-will-stop-using-federal-grants-sign-people-food-stamps
24611 as http://kmuw.orgWed, 09 Oct 2013 16:01:17 +0000Kansas Will Stop Using Federal Grants To Sign People Up For Food StampsAssociated PressA federal waiver that allowed about 20,000 unemployed Kansas residents to receive food assistance will be allowed to expire at the end of the month. The Kansas Department for Children and Families says able-bodied adults with no dependents would need to work for at least 20 hours per week to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP or food stamps. "We know that employment is the most effective way to escape poverty," DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore said in a news release. "As long as federal work requirements are met, no one will lose food assistance; the law only affects those individuals who are capable of working and have no dependent children." The 2009 stimulus bill allowed all states to waive the work requirements for able-bodied adults who had no children. Since then, states have been allowed to keep using the waiver as long as they meet certain criteria. Kansas no longer meets the criteria because of its low unemployment rate, but theWaiver That Allowed 20,000 Kansans To Receive Food Stamps To Expire Oct. 1http://kmuw.org/post/waiver-allowed-20000-kansans-receive-food-stamps-expire-oct-1
22940 as http://kmuw.orgWed, 04 Sep 2013 19:39:32 +0000Waiver That Allowed 20,000 Kansans To Receive Food Stamps To Expire Oct. 1Bryan ThompsonKansas Sen. Pat Roberts has introduced a bill to reform the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. Sen. Roberts says the bill would save $36 billion over ten years by eliminating waste, and closing loopholes in the program. “There were literally billions of dollars in savings that we could find without ever touching the food on the table, or in the kitchen cupboard, for the millions of Americans who rely on this program to help feed their families," he says. Based on figures from the senator’s news release, the savings would amount to less than half of one per cent of total SNAP spending. The main cost reductions would come from steps such as tightening the way individual states use programs such as home heating assistance and welfare to expand SNAP enrollment and benefits. Roberts says some states—including California, the upper Midwest, and Northeastern states—have been abusing those provisions. The bill would also eliminate matching funds forSen. Roberts Says Bill Would Improve SNAP, Save Moneyhttp://kmuw.org/post/sen-roberts-says-bill-would-improve-snap-save-money
13727 as http://kmuw.orgWed, 06 Mar 2013 12:32:25 +0000Sen. Roberts Says Bill Would Improve SNAP, Save MoneySen. Roberts says bill would improve SNAP; Wichita City Council approves funds to renovate pools; Kansas Insurance Commissioner supports Medicaid expansion. Sen. Roberts Says Bill Would Improve SNAP, Save Money Kansas Senator Pat Roberts has introduced a bill to reform the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. More... Council Sets Aside Funds To Renovate City Pools The Wichita City Council approved funding Tuesday for two of the most heavily used municipal pools in Wichita. More... Kansas Insurance Commissioner Backs Medicaid Expansion Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger says she supports an expansion of the state's Medicaid program via the federal government's overhaul of health care. Praeger says Kansas is hurting low-income residents by not expanding Medicaid coverage for the needy and disabled. The federal health care law promises to pay for most of the expansion. Praeger already has broken with many fellow Republicans, including Gov. SamTop Morning News 3.06.13http://kmuw.org/post/top-morning-news-30613
13728 as http://kmuw.orgWed, 06 Mar 2013 11:47:18 +0000Top Morning News 3.06.13Briana O’HigginsDespite record levels of participation, Kansas remains below the national average in residents enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps. A new fact sheet released by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says 315,000 Kansans were enrolled in the program in September 2012. That is 11 percent of the state population, or 1 in 9 people. That is up from 184,036 Kansas enrollees in 2008. Nationally, 15 percent of the population receives SNAP benefits, or 1 in 7 people. Food assistance has increased in Kansas and across the nation since 2000, with significant jumps in participation starting in 2008 when the country started to go into recession. Recession conditions are inextricably linked with SNAP participation. Unemployment rates in Kansas in 2012 were also below the national average. The Kansas rate was almost two percentage points below the national unemployment rate of 7.8 percent. The report also found that when compared to the nation as aKansas Below National Average For Food Stamp Usehttp://kmuw.org/post/kansas-below-national-average-food-stamp-use
11224 as http://kmuw.orgTue, 15 Jan 2013 18:13:58 +0000Kansas Below National Average For Food Stamp Use